Sunday, December 14^th, 2025

Third Sunday of Advent

Readings
ISAIAH 35:1-10; PSALM 146:4-9 ; JAMES 5:7-10; MATTHEW 11:2-11

Image:  Freely.com

“Real joy is not something we make; it is something that happens, when we give God room to work.”-Evelyn Underhill

As has become a bit of a tradition, our Giving Tree provides each of us an opportunity to make someone else’s Christmas a little easier!

The tree is decorated with all sorts of suggestions (on the gift tags) to assist those less fortunate, with gifts from potatoes and carrots to boost the supplies at our local food banks; tea and coffee assortments; toilet paper and soap; socks and other personal items.

Simply take the tag from the tree and return your gift to the tree, our local elves will ensure all is distributed within our community! Our focus this year is more assistance to Seniors versus Children, however we are happy to distribute all contributions!

Martha Benoit has graciously offered to arrange to drop off all food stuffs at the local Food Bank and Deacon Marion will ensure gifts of new personal clothing will be distributed to those in need through the Blessing Boutique, as well as her outreach ministries.

Our thanks to all for setting up the tree, and to all of you for your participation in this meaningful outreach endeavour.

Merry Christmas!

Blue Christmas: A Service of Comfort and Hope


Blue Christmas Service on Sunday, December 21 at 4:00 p.m. This service, held on the Winter Solstice (the darkest night of the year) offers acknowledgement that the holiday season can be difficult for many. It also carries a quiet message of hope as we move toward brighter days. Music will be offered by the Threshold Choir, a local group known for their compassionate voices and calming, heart-centered songs. Their selections are chosen to bring serenity and comfort to people of all backgrounds and spiritual paths. 

A Celtic-themed candle labyrinth will be another meaningful feature of this service. The labyrinth will be available at  2:30pm (before the Blue Christmas service), offering a peaceful space for reflection and grounding.

All are welcome.

There will be a new group starting in the new year - the Naughty Knots.  Anyone interested in getting together to make crafts of any kind (knitting, sewing, quilting, etc) is welcome to come.  The group will be meeting on Tuesdays in the hall beginning Jan 6,  at 1pm. and it will be determined long and how often the group would like to  meet in the month.  Please bring your own supplies for your favorite craft project to work on.  Hoping this will be a fun, social group.

In this issue

Bishop's Column: Responding to the rising tide of homelessness in our communities
Bishop Anna also spoke on this topic in her sermon for the first Sunday in Advent...

Nobody wants to sleep out in the cold 

Order of the diocese investiture honours faithful service

Crafty St. Philip’s parishioners make quilts for women in recovery

Lay leadership in worship course to run in spring 2026

Ripples: December 2025

Love must come before believing

Anglican Foundation resource helps parishes get the conversation on legacy giving started

Letter to the editor (December 2025)

2026 Canadian Church Calendar (Anglican 120th anniversary edition) $15 each. Available now in the office.

St John the Divine Anglican Church will be conducting a Blanket, Coat and Longjohn Drive during the months of.....

Please join us 3:30pm on Tuesday's (via Zoom) for our weekly parish bible study "The G.I.G." (The Group Investigating God). We use the Lectio Divina method to prayerfully and thoughtfully engage with scripture. 

The link is: https://bc-anglican-ca.zoom.us/j/96137290644?pwd=UFhJY2NyQ0VIcnBtNHAwcTRkSEtRdz09

Pledge Cards fordonations to the kitchen renovation can be placed in the offering plate.

“Donations of gently used mens and ladies clothing are needed for our Blessings Boutique. Donations can be dropped off at St John the Divine between 9am and noon Monday through Friday.”

ITEMS NEEDED:
-CANNED MEAT, CANNED SOUPS, BAKED BEANS
-PEANUT BUTTER, JAM, HONEY, SYRUP
-FRUIT JUICE / CRYSTALS
-GRAINS (RICE, NUTS, CEREAL, GRANOLA, ETC)
-CANNED VEGETABLES & FRUIT
-LUNCHBOX ITEMS: DRINK BOXES, GRANOLA BARS, PUDDING, FRUIT CUPS
-PASTA, KRAFT DINNER, MR. NOODLES
-SNACK ITEMS: POPCORN COOKIES, CRACKERS, CHIPS
-FLOUR, CANNED MILK

PLEASE ONLY NON-PERISABLE FOOD ITEMS.

The church now has the ability to accept Interac e-transfers!  E-transfers can be sent to the email address:  givings@sjtdcourtenay.ca

For donations, please include your envelope number if you have one.  

If you do not have an envelope number, please include your name and full mailing address, if you would like to receive a receipt at the end of the year for your donation.

If your donation is to be designated, please include this information also.  If there is no designation, the donation will go into general income.

If you have any questions, please send an email to admin@sjtdcourtenay.ca and someone will get back to you.

Rector:  Rev. Alastair Hunting; ahunting@bc.anglican.ca
Deacon: Rev. Marion Edmondson;  medmondson@bc.anglican.ca
Rector's Warden: Cary Davis; wardens@sjtdcourtenay.ca
People's Warden: Marj Aitken; wardens@sjtdcourtenay.ca
Treasurer: Marcia Haley;  treasurer@sjtdcourtenay.ca
Parish Counsil Secretary; Kathy Coulthart-Dewey; pcsecretary@sjtdcourtenay.ca

https://www.facebook.com/sjtdcourtenay

The link for our facebook page is also found at the bottom of our website page and at the very bottom of our weekly newsletter. 

We acknowledge with thanksgiving that we have gathered on the Unceded traditional territory of the K’òmoks First Nation. As a part of the Anglican Church of Canada, a church of Settlers and First Nations, we commit ourselves to a journey of truth and reconciliation between the Indigenous peoples of this land and the non-native peoples of Canada.